Premium saké contains practically no congeners – the impurities and byproducts of fermentation in alcoholic beverages thought to cause hangovers. The main source of congeners in saké is proteins and fatty acids found in the outer portion of the rice. In premium saké, rice is milled to such a high degree that most congeners are eliminated. In our own experience, when consumed in moderation (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), premium saké is virtually hangover-free! In Japan, they say, “You know good saké the next morning.”

According to a 10-year study, in which he compared Japan’s low death rate from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer to that of other countries, Akita (Japan) University’s Dr. Takizawa concluded that the person who drinks saké moderately every day has a low risk of being diagnosed with such cancer.

Amongst alcoholic beverages, saké contains the most amino acids. Takizawa- sensei injected amino acids from saké to cancerous bladder, prostate, and uterine cells. He found that amino acids play a role in preventing cancer, shrinking cancer cells, and, in some cases, killing cancer cells. In response to these results, the Japan National Cancer Research Institute conducted a 16-year study of its own. They picked 265,000 healthy adults from all over Japan to monitor the risk of cancer during that time period. According to the results of this study, the person who smokes, drinks alcohol, and eats more meat than vegetables every day has the highest risk of being diagnosed with cancer. However, they also found that those who drink saké moderately every day have a lower risk of cancer than those who don’t drink saké at all. Medical researchers recommending daily saké consumption for cancer prevention?
We’ll drink to that!

There is reason to believe there is a component in saké that actually lowers the sugar level in the blood, similar to insulin. Diabetes is a disease that increases the sugar level in the blood due to an insufficiency of the hormone insulin, which converts sugar in the blood to energy. Professor Okuda from the Medical Department of Ehime University in Japan conducted research to study the connection between saké and diabetes. He injected a distilled extract of saké lees (produced after pressing the saké mash to get clear sake), into fat cells to see the reaction. He found that a component in saké lees allows fat cells to absorb blood sugar, thus lowering the level of sugar in the blood. This insulin-like substance in saké lees contains adenosine, which promotes dilation of the arteries.

Given the choice between a shot of insulin and a shot of saké, we’ll take the saké!

Why is sumo wrestlers’ skin so smooth and glowing? What? You’ve never been close enough to one of these gentle giants to tell? Take our word for it; their creamy complexions are the envy of ladies throughout the land, and their prodigious consumption of saké is believed to be the key.

Utilizing thermography, Dr. Hayashi of the Japan Sumo Association Clinic conducted an interesting study about body temperature change after consuming different types of alcohol. In this study, five sumo wrestlers from the Takasago stable each drank 3 go (18 oz.) of saké during a 30-minute time period and had their temperature taken 30 minutes before and after they drank. They also had their temperature taken at the same intervals when drinking equal volumes of whiskey and water cocktails (a popular drink in Japanese bars). Hayashi-sensei found that the wrestlers’ body temperature became 2 degrees (Celsius) higher for a longer period of time when they drank saké than when they drank whiskey. When one’s body temperature is moderately high for an extended period of time, it promotes blood circulation in the skin, as well as the circulation and distribution of nutrition throughout the body. Dr. Hayashi also often uses sake as a topical treatment to heal a sumo wrestler’s skin wounds. This is probably the origin of the famous, but most often misquoted movie line, “Bandages? We don’t need no stinkin’ bandages!”

There is also a saké-buro (saké bath) treatment for people who have a hard time sleeping at night due to stress and fatigue. A saké bath warms your body for a longer period of time than a regular bath does. Studies also show that saké baths help stabilize one’s blood pressure. Here, try this: Pour 2 to 3 glasses (8-12 oz.) of saké into your bath and stir. Take a dip for your health, but please don’t drink the bathwater!

Some people think that saké has more calories than other alcoholic beverages. “Saké makes me fat,” is a comment often heard among Japanese ladies who are concerned about getting in shape. Well, the good news is it’s not true, and it’s an unfortunate misunderstanding about saké.

The fact is, there are 7 calories per gram of alcohol, and this applies to any alcoholic beverage. Thus, your caloric intake when drinking depends on how much alcohol you drink, not whether you drink saké instead of wine, beer, or some other kind of cocktail. The other major source of calories when drinking comes from what you eat with your drinks. Saké pairs well with many lighter foods, so traditional saké snacks are often lighter in calories than snacks you might eat with other drinks.